Cluster Headache Injection and Surgical Therapy

The primary treatment strategy for cluster headaches is prevention.  Because of the devastating nature of these headaches, effective and aggressive preventative and symptomatic relief measures are in order.

Following are some injection and surgical approaches to treat cluster headaches. (Your treatment may vary depending upon your sensitivity to certain medications or therapy approaches or your health-care provider's recommendations.)

Sphenopalatine Ganglion (SPG) Blockade. This is a neural blockade that involves the injection of a nerve-blocking agent into a cluster of nerves along the skull behind the face. 
Comments: Reported successful in some patients, although repeated SPG blockade treatment is not generally accepted by neurologists. Talk to your physician about whether you would be a candidate for SPG blockade therapy.

Surgical Procedures. Various surgical procedures, such as percutaneous stereotaxic or radiofrequency rhizotomy, are available. However, physicians' opinions differ as to whether or not such procedures can provide long-term cluster headache relief. It's best to talk to your physician to determine if you might be a candidate for such procedures.